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E. C. EATON.& F. C.. DAMlVI.

TARGET TRAP.

No'. 469.904. Patented Mar. l., 1892.

WITNESS'ES. A y INVENTDRS.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ENOCH C. EATON, OF PINCKNEYVILLEILLINOIS, AND FREDERICK C. DAMM, OF FINDLAY, OHIO, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO TI'IE CLEVELAND TARGET COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

TARG ET-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,904, dated March 1, 1892.

Application ned rune 27,1891. sentirte. 397,675. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom, t waa/y con/cern.-

Be it known that we, ENocH C. EATON, a resident of Pinckneyville, Perry county, State of Illinois, and FREDERICK C. DAMM, a resident of Findlay, Hancock county, State of Ohio, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Target-Traps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a target-trap containing our invention, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Our invention relates to the class of devices known as target-traps, which are employed to throw ilying targets or artificial birds.

It is amore or less difficult undertaking, involving considerable' loss of time, to change the position of the target-traps now in common use when they have once been set. When their position is not changed, all of the targets from one trap are thrown, in substantially the same directionand about the same distance. Trap-shooters have by experience come to know` this, and they are able, after the first target is thrown, to calculate with approximate accuracy the point toward which they must shoot to hit the target. Therefore trap-shooting as commonly practiced does not require as much skill and quickness as is required in shooting at live birds, which may fly in any direction.

The object of our invention is to provide a trap in which the position of the throwingarm may be easilyand quickly changed, whereby the targets may be thrown in diierent directions, which cannot be known by the marks` man, thus making this sport more nearly resemble live-bird shooting. With this end in view We have constructed a targettrap in which the throwing-arm and its operating mechanism are supported on an easily-rotatable post, and have provided means by which the position of said post may be easily and quickly changed and locked; and our invention consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out definitelyy in the claims.

In the trap shown in the drawingsthe construction of the throwing-arm and its operating mechanism is not novel, and these parts may be of any suitable construction. They are suitably supported on a vertical post A, which is pivoted to the base of the trap. This base, as shown, consists of a circular disk B, supported by suitable legs b, and the post projects from the center of said circular base.

Rigidly secured to the post A is a radial arm C, which affords a handle for turning said post and is also a part of the mechanism by means of which vthe base and post are locked together.

D represents a spring-latch mounted on the arm C and adapted to engage with suitable indentations, corrugations, or projections on the base. y

E represents a bell-crank lever pivoted to the arm C. One arm of the lever E is connected with latch D, While the other end extends alongside of the arm C in a convenient position, where said arm C and the lever E may be simultaneously grasped and operated with one hand. In the form shown the edge of the base .B is serrated and the latch.D engages with said serrated edge, thus for the time being rigidly connecting the post and base.

Vhen the trap has been set and just before the trigger has been pulled, the trap-setter can grasp the arm C, release the latch D, and turn the post in either direction. Then the latch is allowed to spring back, it automatically locks the post to the base, whereupon the trigger may be quickly pulled and the target thrown in a direction which the marksman cannot calculate upon.

I-Iaving thus described our invention, what w IOO an arm rigidly attached to said post and extending across said base, a spring-actuated latch carried by said arm and adapted to engage the said base, and a lever pivoted to said arm and adapted to actuate said latch, substantially as set forth.

In a target-trap, in combination, acircu lar base having a serrated periphery, a post centrally pivoted thereto upon which the throwing-arm and its operating mechanism are supported, an arm rigidly secured to said post, a spring-latch mounted on said arm and adapted to engage With said serrated periphery, and a bell-crank lever pivoted to said arm and engaging with said latch, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a target-trap, in combination, a base, a revoluble supporting-post pivoted to the base and carryingvr and revolving the throwing-arm and its actuating mechanism, a radial operating-arm rigid with said post and by ENOCH C. EATON. FREDERICK C. DAHM.

Witnesses to the signature of Enoch C. Eaton: i

FRANK M. ROE, H. S. BROWN. lVitnesses to the signature of Frederick C. Damm:

C. C. HARRIS, V.' T. SPITTER. 

